Improvement in closing fruit-jars



C. NEWMAN.

Closing Fruit Jars.

Patented May 12, "1863.

N. PETERS, Pholwl thogmpmn Washingicn. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARLTON NEVMAN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND EPHRAIM \VORMSER.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOSING FRUIT-JARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,536, dated May 12, 1863.-

4 proved jar or can with the cap raised from it.

Fig. 2 is asectional representation of my improved fruit jar or can with the cap or cover screwed down.

In the several figures like letters refer to similar parts.

My invention consists in the peculiar contrivance herein described for preventing the loosening of the cap or cover of the jaw by reason of the shrinking of the neck of the jar, can, or bottle in cooling.

In the use of jars, cans, or bottles for preserving fruits, &c., by the process of hermetical sealing, it is very important to guard against every possibility for the admission of air, as an absolute air-tight joint between the vessel containing the fruit, &c. and its cap, cover, or stopper is essential to the success of the operation. A fruitful source of difficulty is the shrinking of the vessel, whether of glass, metal, or other material, for, as the fruits, &c., are put in very hot, and the stopper or cover is put on comparatively cold, there will be some disturbance caused by the contracting of the neck of the jar or can as its contents cool; and this will oftentimes be sufficient to admit the air, even if the vessel were made air-tight when first closed. \Vhere the stopper, cap, or cover is placed over or outside of the neck of the jar or can this disturbance is most likely to e1 1- sue, and it is to this mode of sealing preservejars that this portion of my invention is peculiarly adapted.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my improved preserve jar or can, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, a is the jar or can, made of glass, metal, or other suitable substance, having an open mouth surrounded by a neck, I). The mouth of the jar is closed or covered by acap, c, which may be made of metal or other suitable substance.

The mode of securing or fastening down the cap to the neck of the jar is immaterial, so that it be pressed downward upon a gasket or elastic band but the mode which I prefer, and which is shown in the drawings, is to have a screw in the neck I) of the jar, and a corresponding female screw in the sides of the cap or cover 0. Aroundthe sides of the cap is a flange, cl, which is not at right angles to the sides of the cap, but flares upward, as shown in the drawings. This flare in the flange of the cap corresponds in its angle with the shoulder of the jar or can around its neck, as seen at e in the figures. From the base of the neck of the jar the shoulder rises up gradually all round the neck for some distance toward the circumference, so that the shoulder of the jar, instead of being level or arching downward from the base of the neck, as is usually the case, forms an inclined surface all around the neck, the lowest part of which is close to the neck of the jar, as seen in the drawings. The object of this conformation is to cause the'outer surface of the shoulder of the jar, as it contracts in cooling, to press inward against the flange (l of the cap, so that instead of the glass receding from the cap as it contracts in cooling, the very con-' traction which causes the glass to draw together toward the center presses it against the flange of the cap, which by reason ofits flar ing rim occupies a position nearer the center of the vessel than the surface against which it presses- An elastic gasket or band of india-rubber is placed around the neck of the jar, so that the flange of the cap presses it down on the surface of the jar and thus makes an air-tight joint, the pressure on the gasket being only increased as the jar contracts in cooling. The same result may be attained with a jar or can constructed as described, and a cap having no flange around its sides and screwed down upon a gasket, as the contraction of the shoulder of the vessel will press around the edge of the cap and tighten the joint.

My invention may be used with jars or cans of any material, and either with caps or. covers screwing down on the neck of the jar, or otherwise pressed downward onto it.

Having thus described my improvement in self-sealing preserve jars or cans, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

So constructing or shaping the upper part around the neck of self-sealing jars or cans as that the shoulder of the jar shall incline gradually downward from the circumference toward the neck, in combination with the a use of a cap or cover screwed or otherwise fastened over the neck of the jar, with an elastic gasket interposed between the base of the cap and the shoulder of the jar for the purpose of increasing the pressure on the gasket between the shoulder of the jar and the base of the cap or cover as the jar contracts in cooling, substantially as hereinbefore described.

In testimony whereof I, the said CARLTON NEWMAN, have hereunto set my hand.

CARLTON NEWVMAN. In presence of- A. S. NIcHoLsoN, XV. BAKEWELL. 

